Tunisia 2018 World Cup Odds

Tunisia will be aiming to put the brakes on an 11-match winless streak in World Cup competition as they make their first appearance on the soccer world’s biggest stage since 2006.

The Eagles of Carthage prepare for the 2018 FIFA World Cup as Africa’s highest-ranked national side, perched at No. 14 on the FIFA World Ranking, vaulting from their position at No. 23 just two months ago. Tunisia’s meteoric rise on the rankings has been fueled by a seven-match unbeaten streak across all competitions, capped by recent clean-sheet victories in friendlies with Iran and Costa Rica, two teams that will also be competing in this year’s tournament.

However, the Tunisians have enjoyed little success in their four previous World Cup appearances. The Eagles have been kept out of the win column in each of their past three trips to the tournament. That includes their last appearance in 2006, when they finished a distant third on the Group H table, leaving the squad with a 0-4-7 win-draw-loss record in 11 tournament matches since stunning Mexico in a 3-1 victory in their first-ever World Cup match in 1978.

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Tunisia’s Odds to Win World Cup: +50000

Despite being the highest-ranked African side bound for Russia 2018, and suffering just one loss in their past eight competitive contests, Tunisia enters this year’s tournament sporting the weakest odds in World Cup betting of any African nation, pegged at a distant +50000, well back of Senegal and Egypt, who sit knotted at +15000, Nigeria at +20000 and Morocco at +30000.

The Eagles of Carthage have been dramatically impacted by a less than advantageous World Cup draw that has left them grouped with European powerhouses Belgium and England, who both sit among the favorites on the World Cup betting odds, at +1100 and +1600, respectively.

Tunisia’s Odds to Win Group G: +1600

While Tunisia’s recent strong play would likely earn them “dark horse” status in most other groups, the Eagles of Carthage will have to truly soar if they are to reward bettors as a lengthy +1600 wager to finish atop the Group G table.

The Tunisians open group stage action on June 18 against England, sporting lengthy +900 game line odds, and take on the Belgians five days later as distant +1100 underdogs.

Despite those long game line odds, the Tunisians own a respectable track record against their European rivals, and are listed as a +325 bet to advance beyond the group stage.

Tunisia last faced the Three Lions in group stage action at the 1998 World Cup, where they dropped a 2-0 decision, but they played the English to a 1-1 draw in their only other meeting, a 1990 friendly.

While the odds of defeating the Belgians are discouraging, Tunisia has managed to keep pace with les Diables Rouges in three previous meetings, going 1-1-1 including a 1-1 draw at the 2002 World Cup.

However, the Belgians have mauled lesser squads with regularity during a 16-match unbeaten streak across all competitions, outscoring opponents by a gaudy 57-14 margin.

Tunisia’s Best World Cup Bets

Depending on the level of success in their meetings with England and Belgium, the most attractive World Cup betting option for football fans following the Eagles of Carthage will likely come in their group stage finale against Group G long shots Panama.

Tunisia sits as a healthy +115 favorite to get past Los Canaleros, who will be making their first-ever World Cup appearance at Russia 2018. Panama has struggled since clinching a berth in the tournament, going 1-1-3 in their past five.

Game line odds of +400 on a draw with low-scoring England should also attract the attention of the Tunisian soccer faithful. The Three Lions have finished level with opponents in three of four contests, and have scored just four total goals over their past six matches. In addition, the total in Tunisia’s match with England is set at 2.5, adding extra appeal to a wager on the UNDER.

Tunisia’s Player to Watch: Wahbi Khazri

The Eagles of Carthage are faced with a massive hole following the news that leading goal scorer Taha Yassine Khenissi will miss Russia 2018 after suffering a thigh injury during Tunisian Ligue 1 action with Esperance.

Forward Wahbi Khazri will be looked at to pick up the slack. The 27-year-old tallied 11 goals and four assists in 34 appearances with French club Stade Rennais, and has scored 12 times in 37 appearances with the national squad.

Tunisia’s Road to Russia

Tunisia went undefeated in CAF World Cup qualifying, starting with a 4-2 aggregate win over Mauritania in second-round action, and finished atop the Group A table in the third round with a 4-2-0 record, while keeping clean sheets on three occasions.

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